MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak in the United States
2026 viral disease outbreak
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The MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak was confirmed to involve citizens of the United States by May 2026, as domestic health authorities began monitoring returning passengers.
Various states (Monitoring)
| 2026 MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak in the United States | |
|---|---|
| Disease | Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) |
| Virus strain | Orthohantavirus |
| Location | National Quarantine Unit, Omaha, Nebraska (Quarantine) Various states (Monitoring) |
| Date | May 2026 – present |
| Confirmed cases | 0 |
| Suspected cases‡ | 23 (under monitoring) |
Deaths | 0 |
| ‡Suspected cases have not been confirmed by laboratory tests as being due to this strain, although some other strains may have been ruled out. | |
Repatriation and quarantine
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is coordinating with local health agencies to monitor at least six prior passengers in Arizona, California, Georgia, Texas, and Virginia.[1] On 8 May 2026, U.S. officials announced that 17 American passengers still aboard the ship would be repatriated via a government medical flight to Nebraska. These individuals will be transported from Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska to the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) for ongoing evaluation and monitoring.[2][3]
Clinical monitoring
As of May 8, there are no confirmed cases of Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) among the returning American passengers. The 17 citizens transferred to the UNMC National Quarantine Unit, along with the six passengers being monitored by local health departments in their home states, are experiencing daily symptom checks and viral testing.[2][1]
The incubation period for hantavirus can range from one to eight weeks. Federal health officials anticipate the monitoring protocol to continue through late June to ensure no delayed symptom onset occurs.[4]
Response
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) health advisory to domestic medical professionals. The advisory instructed clinicians to maintain a high index of suspicion for Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in patients presenting with fever, fatigue, and severe muscle aches who recently traveled aboard the MV Hondius.[1]
The United States Department of State issued a Level 2 travel advisory, urging Americans to exercise increased caution when traveling on specific expedition cruises, noting the difficulties of medical evacuations from remote maritime environments.[5]